Floating structure for the sea and fluvial transport of goods.



G. NAHMAN.

FLOATING STRUCTURE FOR THE SEA AND FLUVIAL TRANSPORT 0F GOODS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY l8. i918.

Patented Dec. 31, 1918.

5 SHEETS-SHEET l G. NAHMAN.

FLOATING STRUCTURE FOR THE SEA AND FLUVIAL TRANSPORT 0F GOODS.

APPHCATION FILED MAY 18. [918. 1,289,875., Patented Dec. 31, 1918.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

a. NAHMAN. FLOATING STRUCTURE FOR THE SEA AND FLUVIAL TRANSPORT 0F GOODS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY'IB. 198.

Patented Dec. 31, 1918.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

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P a a mh R Q m %w Rn MI A? H J M K H r a G. NAHMAN.

FLOATING STRUCTURE FOR THE SEA AND FLUVIAL TRANSPORT 0F 6000s.

- APPLICATION FILED MAY l3. IQIB. 1,289.875. Patented Dec. 31, 1918.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

for:

G. NAHMANQ FLOATING STRUCTURE FOR THE SEA AND FLUVIAL TRANSPORT 0F GOODS.

III/W18. I918.

APPLICATION FILED Patented Dec. 31, 1918.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

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GUSTAVE NAHMAN, 0F ZURICH, SWITZERLAND.

FLOATING STRUCTURE FOR THE SEA AND FLUVIAL TBANSIPORT 0F GOODS.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GUs'rAvn NAHMAN, a citizen of Egypt, residing at Zurich, Switzerland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Floating Structures for the Sea and Fluvial Transport of Goods; and I do hereby declare the following to be a clear, full, and exact description of t e invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, an to letters or figures of reference marked thereon, who form a part of this specification.

The building of the ships used hitherto for the transport of goods takes up much time and the building price is very high owing to the great number of different pieces required. to explosions, torpedoes, heavy-sea and the like can usually only be increased to the detriment of the load or cargo. Moreover as the hazard of loss of the ship can never be wholly avoided, there has to be added to a loss of the cargo also the loss of the ship representing generally a considerable commercial value and an industrial value which can only be replaced with difliculty within a short period of time. Further, in the vessels hitherto constructed it is not always possible to take full advantage of the available space for want of cargo, the ratio between the deadweight and the usefulload being then a very disadvantageous one. The present invention has for its object to remedy the drawbacks referred to by roviding floating structures (raft-vessels) adapted to be assembled very rapidly and which are relatively light and practically insubmergible.

This invention will now be more particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawing illustrating several constructional examples of the invention.

In these drawings:

Figure 1 is a side view rent shape.

Fig. 2 is partly a side view and partly a longitudinal section through a bale of greater size.

of a bale of a cur- Fig. 3 illustrates the same bale partly in a vertical cross-section and partly in an end view.

Fig. l is a longitudinal section through a bale inclosing a projectile.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed. May 18, 1 918.

On the other hand, their resistance Patented Dec. 31, 1918.

Serial No. 235,407.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a plurality of bales of the kind illustrated'in Figs. 2 and 3 ready for being assembled in a row having a cross-section comprising only one bale;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a plurality of bales of the kind illustrated in Figs. 1 and/i ready for being assembled to a single row having a cross-section comprising several bales;

Figs. 7, 8, 9 and 10 are a side view, a front view, a vertical cross-section and a horizontal longitudinal section respectively, of a segment of a row.

Fig. 11 is a perspective view of an anchoring or bracing member of the longitudinal fastening or connection means.

Fig 12 i a diagrammaticview of asegment of the transversal fastening or connection means.

Figs. 13, 14:, 15 and 16 illustrate a junction-box of the means used for effecting the transversal connection, Fig. 13 being a plan view; Fig. 14 is partly a front view and partly a vertical cross-section, Fig. 15 a side view and Fig. 16 a longitudinal axial section of said box.

Fig. 17 is partly an axial longitudinal section and partly a side view of a segment of a row made up of bales of the kind illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3;

Fig. 18 is a corresponding front view.

Fig. 19 illustrates partly in a longitudinal section andpartly in a side View an anchoring or bracing member.

Fig. 20 is a cross-section on the line XX -XX of Fig. 19.

Fig. 21 is a diagrammatic cross-section through a raft-vessel according to the invention.

Fig. 22 illustrates diagrammatically the transversal connections or fastenings of said raft-vessel.

Fig. 23 illustrates diagrammatically in a perspective view details of said transversal connections. V I

Figs. 24, 25 and 26 are three vertical sections illustrating three different stages of the manner of fixing the metallic covers of the raft-vessel.

Fig. 27 is a corresponding side view.

Fig. 28 is a section on the line XXVIII- XXVIII of Fig. 27.

Figs. 29, 30, 31 and 32 are a plan view, a front view, a transversal cross-section and a the transversal connections. r

Fig. 35 is a horizontal cross-sectlon on 3 the line XXXV-XXXV of Fig. 36 through a raft-vessel;

Fig. 36 i a vertical cross-section on the line XXXVIXXXVI of Fig. 35..

Fig. 37 illustrates 01mg of a. compressed" fibrous material is 1g. 39 XXXIX-XXXIX through thesheet goods on rivers;

Fig. efiillustrates Fig. 38shows partlyin a vertical crosssection on the line XXXVIIIXXXVIII of Fig. 37 and partly in a side view a part of the same raft-vessel;

' is across-section of Fig. 37 I plan View of the same rafton the line Fig. 40 is a vessel,

Fig. 41 being a corresponding side view.

Fig.

thelateral'edges of the rows. If is; :43isa. cross-section on the line XLII-I -XLIIIpf Fig.42, the cable or rope 154a cross 'section. on the-line partly in a longitudinal sect on and partly in a de vlew a raft partly in a transversal cross-section and partly in a front view said fluvial raft.

Fig. 47 is a diagrammatic plan View of a docky ard in which the raft-vessel may be.

built.

Fig. 48 is a diagrammatic crosss ection on the llne XLVIII-XLVIII of Fig. 47, and .Figs. 49 and 50 are diagrammatic sections on the lines XLIX-XLIX and L-L respectively. of Fig. 47. The bale illustratedin Fig.1 and consistcovered- With canvas and is kept in. the proper shape by means of four, metallic armatures l. Thisbale having been immersed into a bath of tar or pitch is adapted to float on thewater without deterioration. The specific-Weight of a current American bale of cotton is about 0.4).

To-the bale illustrated in Fig. 2 is given a special shape so that it is particularly adaptedsto be; used for the building 'of the raft-vessel. This balevis provided with a light bales V The bales illustrated. in

closely fitting With flanges 4 which rest geous properties of resistance (the accidental superficial and permanent deformations being reduced, the homogeneity of'the. compressed material' increased and the internal stresses distributed in a more uniform manner) and at the same time a more regu lar. shape. V V

Referring to 'Fig. 4, it will be seen that the compressed material is used in this case for wrapping up a projectile. The specific Weight of such a heavy bale is chosen in accordance with the place that said bale takes up in the-finished structure. The

are always used (assupport'ing elements,

.whilev the heavy bales. maybe, used: either as counter-weights .or as. supporting elements, according. to theirspeci-fic weights. also wrapped up in an impermeable cover thereto. he greatest part of the novel structure will be made up of such bales connectedand locked among themselves; Owing to the lockingof the balesythe. latter-comein intimate contact with one anotherand they. adhere closely owing to the impermeable pitchy cover in whichthey are wrapped.

The bales 'illustratedin Fig. 5 are special bales of the kindshown in Figs. 2'and 3 and they are ready for being assembled in a row. The end-surfaces of these bales anotherand the tubes'2 and 3 of all bales of the row form a continuous conduit extending from one end of the row to the other. Said tubes 2, 3 form a metallic cable or rope. 8 (see also Fig. 6) elements of the row in the longitudinal direction. V he row madeup ofspeci-al. bales ofthe klnd illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3 is only destined for being used as'apart of a large structure (raft-vessel)',. a row consisting ofbales Which'have no central aperture may be ,used either as a stru.cture fioating by itself or as a part of another,larger structure. The structure illustrated in Fig. 6 coinprises three layers each layer consistingof two bales and said three layers being adapted to be connected in a single row comprisare arranged more' The ends compressed fibrous. material) Figs. 2, J3 andd are.

ing in its cross-section six bales. Between the first and second row as well as between the second and third row is disposed in the median longitudinal vertical plane of the row a metallic rope 8 which is for the longitudinal connection of the elements of the row. This rope 8 is taken up by tubes 2 which prevent a damaging of the impermeable covers at the edges of the bales by said rope. The vertical joints of the bales of each layer are displaced with regard to the vertical joints of the neighboring layers to an amount corresponding to the half length of a bale.

Fig. 7 shows a part of a row of the kind illustrated in Fig. 6 provided with its transversal connections 10. These connections or fastenings 10 are locked on the left hand side of Fig. 7 while onthe right hand side they are yet open. Thin sheet iron pieces 11 are for distributing the pressure exerted by the transversal connections upon the lateral edges of the row over a greater surface and they prevent at the same time a damaging of said edges. The transversal connections 10 consist of a single rope arranged so as to form a plurality of loops 12 (Fig. 12) 13 are junction-boxes which determine the length of the loops and the distance between the single loops. Figs. 13, 1-1, 15, 16 illustrate on an enlarged scale sucha junction-box which comprises two metalhc plates 14, 15 inclosing a space adapted to take up the two branches of the loop 12, a clearance being provided between said two branches and between the latter and the inner walls of the plates 14 and 15. The lower plate 15 projects beyond the junctionbox proper and ends in a hook 16. The two branches of the loop 12 are soldered to the junction-box 13 by casting metal into the space inclosed by the two plates 14 and 15. The locking of the transversal connections or fastenings is efi'ected by means of a machine. To this end hooks 18 provided with an eye are connected to the ends of the loops lying opposite the junction-boxes 13, said hooks 18 being adapted to engage into the hooks 16. The putting together of a row of the kind shown in Figs. 7 8, 9 and 10 is effected in the following manner: At first the series of transversal connections or fastenings ready for being used and having the required length are placed on the ground of the building yard in which the rows have to be assembled. Hereupon the first layer of bales is put on said open connections, care being taken that the bales touch one another. When this is the case, the cable or rope 8 which is kept tensioned at its two ends is placed in the proper manner on said layer, the second layer of bales being put afterward on the first one. The second cable and the third row are then put in the same manner on the second layer.

When this has been done, two locking members are securely fixed to the cable and to those bales which are arranged at the two ends of the row. The transversal connections are then tied together and locked, the length of the loops having been chosen so that a strong tightening is obtained in the transversal direction upon a locking of said transversal connections. Owing to the locking of the transversal connections, the bales, and consequently the whole row, have the tendency to extend or elongate in the longitudinal direction so that a great stress is exerted upon the longitudinal ropes. Thus, the whole assembled row constitutes a structure by itself which is kept compressed in the 'transversal and longitudinal direction. Such a row comprises several bales in its cross-section in contradistinction to that shown in Fig. 5 comprising only one bale in its cross-section.

In order to prevent a disconnection of the whole row in the event of a rupture of a longitudinal connection, anchoring members 19 (Figs. 10 and 11) are intercalated at suitable distances between the different elements of the row subdividing the latter into a number of sections independent of one another. Such an anchoring member 19 comprises a strong sheet-iron plate having two ends bent at right angles in opposite direction relatively to a middle portion 20, so that this member has a Z-like shape. The middle portion 20 having the same height as a bale, is formed integral with two hollow cylinders 21 into which extend the cables or ropes 8 referred to, a clearance being provided between the latter and the inner walls of the cylinders 21 and said cables 8 being fixed to the cylinders 21 by casting metal into the latter.

'When the rows are made up of bales provided with a central hollow, the anchoringinember illustrated in Figs. 17, 18, 19 and 20 is used. This member 23 (Figs. 19 and 20) comprises two pieces 24 forming together a double truncated cone and provided on their inner side with milled recesses. Between said two pieces 24 is placed the cable 25 engaging the milled recesses of the inner walls of the pieces 24. The latter are pressed against the cable 25 by means of two sleeves 26 having each the shape of a truncated cone and surrounding said pieces 24.

The sleeves 26 are provided with flanges 27 against which are caused to rest the bales arranged on both sides of the anchoringmember 23. Any pressure exerted by a bale upon the flange 27 of one of the sleeves 26 has the tendency to press the truncated cone formed by the two pieces 24 farther into the sleeve 26, the rope 25 being then clamped only tighter between the pieces 24.. In the event of a rupture of the rope, for instance on the right of the anchoring-member, the flange 27 of the sleeve 26 on the left of Fig. 19 prevents any longitudinal displacement on the left of the anchoring-member.

Fig. 21 illustrates diagrammatically a transversal cross-section through a raft-ves sel built according to this invention. 28 denotes a launching platform and 29 are rows of bales provided with a central boring of the kind shown in Fig 5. On the platform 28 is placed a light structure consisting of sheet metals and flat irons and destined to form the lower surface of the raft to be built. The fiat irons are arranged longitudinally at a distance from each other corre' sponding to the width of the sheet-metals 30, the latter being secured between said fiat irons by means of bolts. T0 the upper side of the fiat irons are fixed rings through which pass the ropes of the transversal connections, said ropes being provided for fastening the rows together in a parallel bundle forming the raft-vessel.

The raft illustrated in Fig. 21 comprises four layers of rows. The lowermost and the two upper layers consist each of six rows. In the lowest but one layer, the two middle rows are replaced byguns arranged longitudinally and constitutingtogether "with their packing,describe d more'fully later on, 'fstance theloops 37 and 390i the second layer) arranged in an identical manner in the different. frame-like structures offthe a' heavy row' which is more rigid than those made up of bales and acting asajcou'nter- .weight for the floating-structure. I The diagrammatic Figs. 22 andf23 'illustrate the arrangement and the action of the transversal connections of the raft. These connections consist of a plurality of framelike structures one of which is shown in Fig. 22.v Each of said frame-like structures is for effecting, independently of the other ones, a transversal fastening of the elements of which the raft is made up. 31 are members provided with two eyes and 32 are hooks provided with one eye. The lowermost layer is tied together transversally by means of a single endless rope 33 forming two outer loops 34; and two inner loops 35 (see Fig. 22) so that the rows 29 are tied together in pairs by means of the rope 33 double over its wvhole length. The fastening together of the connections is started at I by connecting'the loops 34: to the loops 35 by means of said members 31. This fasten ing together can be easily effected by hand, as the rope 33 is not subjected to any stress, the eyes of the members 31 admitting a sliding of the rope and the fastening together at 11 being not yet effected. The fastening together of the two loops 35 at IT is effected by means of a machine in a manner described more fully later on. Owing to the fastening together at 11, the whole rope 33 is tensioned; this tension will be the same over the whole length of the rope, if no ac count is taken of the friction produced. The

distance between the ends of the loops 35 provided with hooks 32 must be chosen so that the transversal tightening together obtained at the moment at which the hooks 32 are caused to engage into the members 31 is sufficiently strong to impart to the structure the desired strength. The transversal fas tening together of the structure causes a longitudinal elongation of the bales which are consequently pressed tighter against one another in the longitudinal direction, exerting thereby a great stress upon the longitudinal ropes 36 anchored at least to the two ends of the structure. To the rope 33 fastening together the lowermost layer are fixed other ropes, namely:

(a) The ropes forming two outer loops 37 are fixed to the outer loops 34 of the lowermost layer by means of junction-boxes, each branch of each loop 37 being attached to the corresponding branch of the loop 34 by means of a junction-box 38 adapted to take up two ropes.

(b) Two inner loops 39 are fixed to the inner loops 35 of the lowermost layer, the two branches of each loop 39 being attached to the corresponding branch of the loop 35 by means of a junction-box 40 adapted to take up four ropes- I All loops of the difi'erent layers (for intransversal connections, appertain along the Whole length of the structure to the same rope. As shown inthe perspective ig. 23, the junction-boxes (such as 38 and 4:0)" admit a passage from one frame-like structure to another one Without requiring a cutting of the ropes.

The fastening together at I" and IIlis effected in just the same manner as at I and II. But at the moment at which the hooks provided with an eye engage one another and at which the locking is effected, the portions of the loops 34 and 35 of the lowermost layer situated above the junction-boxes Y38 and 10 are no longer subjected to a stress, as

the stress to which they have been submit-- ted is now taken up by the loops 37 and Y39 (the latter proves however only correct when it is assumed that the second layeris tied up in just the same manner as the first one and when no account is taken of the friction).

The tying together of the upper layers is effected by means of elements corresponding to those hereinbefore described, so that at the moment at which the hooks 32 of the fourth layer are caused to engage into one another, all horizontal portions of the transversal connections, excepting those situated on the outer circumference (at the base and at the top of the raft-vessel) are not subjected to any stress.

The rows I, I,I and 1 on the one hand and II, II, II and II on the other hand, form rectangular parallelepipeds having a Vertically elongated cross-section which is tied together transversally along its whole circumference. On the other hand, said transversal connections effect a tying together of said three parallelepipeds among themselves by acting upon the whole circumference of the vessel. Said connections generate a vertical compression of the row which is greater than the corresponding horizontal compression, this being due to the vertically elongated shape of the rectangu lar parallelepipeds. Now, as the horizontal shearing-forces of the vessel submitted to bending stresses are taken up between the different rows by the friction produced between their horizontal surfaces touching one another, thehereinbefore mentioned property of the connections, which increases the vertical compression of the rows and consequently also the friction produced between the contacting horizontal surfacesv coated with tar, has the effect to increase the resistance with regard to the horizontal shearing-stresses. In the transversal direction of the raft-vessel, the vertical shearing-forces are taken up by the bales owing to their peculiar arrangement in the different layers (vertical joints shifted relatively to one another to an amount corresponding to the half length of the bales) as well asjby the longitudinal connections and the guns.

In the event that any portion of the transversal connections should break in the upper part of the structure (fourth layer), the horizontal portion situated immediately beneath will be subjected to the stress, the rupture being thus localized. The same takes place, when the rupture occurs in any other portion of the transversal connection; the latter will expand owing to the position of the junction-boxes arranged somewhat beneath each layer, but the rows remain always connected in the transversal direction.

In order to protect the edges of the rows coming in contact with the transversal connections and to distribute in a better manner the compressions exerted by the cables upon said edges, so that too great deformations causing a loss in the tension of the transversal connections are avoided, bent sheet-metal pieces 41 (Figs. 21, 24 and 27) are arranged along the edges of the rows, said pieces 41 fitting snugly to the edges of the rows.

Figs. 24, 25 and 26 illustrate in vertical cross-sections three different stages of the manner in which the metallic cover protecting the raft-vessel laterally and at its upper surface is fixed to the transversal connections. 42 denotes a spring arranged parallel to the longitudinal axis of the raft-vessel and provided at distances corresponding to the longitudinal distances between the transversal connections with rings 43 fixed thereto. A second spring 44 which is larger than the first mentioned one has vertical transversal connections, the rings 43amgradually displaced toward the wall of the raft-vessel carrying with them the springs 42 and 44. When the transversal connections are locked, the light metallic covers 46 are fixed in a secure 'manner, said covers being clamped between the two springs 42 and 44. I

Figs. 29 to 32 illustrate a machine adapted to be used for locking the connec: tions. 47 denotes a plate carrying two slides 48. 49 denotes arms. adapted to be moved along said slides 48. 50 is an electric motor fixed to the back half of the plate 47 in the middle of the latter (Fig. 29). This motor is adapted to drive aworm 51 en gaging a toothed wheel 52. The latter is fixed to a shaft 58. The two halves of this shaft situated on different sides of the wheel 52 are provided with a left-handed and a right-handed thread respectively. The shaft53 extends into holes of the arms 49 provided with corresponding screwthreads. The arms 49 are provided at their ends with circular extensions 54 confining between them a slot 55. The extensions 54 are provided with holes adapted to take up removable pins 56 fitting with clearance in said holes.

In order to effect, for instance, the fastening together of the lower layerof the raftvessel (Fig. 22) the following procedures are carried out: At first themachine is placed inthe pro-per manner on said layer, thereupon the lower ends of the inner loops 35 are provided with hooks 32 having each one eye. Upon the removal of the pins 56, the eyes of the hooks 32 are introduced into the slots 55 of the arms 49, so that the holes provided in the ends of said arms coincide with those of the eyes of the hooks 82, the pins 56 being then again inserted into the holes of the arms 49 and into said eyes. The actuation of the motor 50 then causes. by means of the worm 51 and the toothed wheel 52 a rotation of the shaft 53,. which causes in its turn a movement of the arms 49 toward one another. When the hooks 32 have been caused to engage each other,

their middlewith circular holes. The plate been done, the machine may then be trans-.

portedto'any other place.

Figs. to 41 relate to the raft-vessel illustrated diagrammatically in Fig. 21. This raft-vessel destined to be used for the traflic by sea has its own propulsion motors. The reference letters of these figures corresponding to those used in the figures hereinbefore described denote corresponding parts.

The front and the back part of the vessel.

shown inFigs. 35 to 4:1 consist 'offmetallic pieces assembled in such a manner'that the ends of the vessel havea pointed shape offering asmaller resistance to the propulsion. The metallic pieces 57 and 58 of said pointed bodies provided. on thetwo ends of the vessel can be usedlas reservoirs which may be filled with liquid fuels or other sultable materials or said pieces may be used for equilibrating the raft-vessel.

The reservoirs 57 and 58 are caused to rest against guide-members 59.. The pointed piece 60 may' alsobe'used as a reservoir.

vided at the back are arranged the propulsion motors of the raft. 62 is a motor sup-- plied with liquid fuel from the reservoirs 63. The three vertical sheet-metals '64; and the four horizontal sheet-metals 65 areffor securing the metallic cage 61 to the 'row of the guns. The four metal-sheets 66, two of which are horizontatwhile the other two are vertical, arefor fixing the tip piece 60 in its properplace. 'All .of said metal-sheets are secured-to the pieces which have to be: anchored to said sheets by means of bolts.

The securing or looking members 9 (Figs. 5, 35-.39) of the rows 29 by means of which is effected the connection between the rows and the metallic-pieces provided at both'ends of the vessel, comprise two plates 67 ,and 68 independent of oneanother and provided in 68 is provided with a hollow cylindrical re inforcing part 69 and two vertical guides 7 0 connected to the pa'rt'69 by meansof oblique ribs (Fig. 5). A screw fixed;to the end of thelongitudinal rope36 passes through the hollow cylindrical part 69. The longitudinal tensioning of the rope .-is efiected by means ofa bolt 71. 72. (Fig. 5) are hooks arranged at the same distance from thecenter of the plate 68.1

Figs. .42, 4:3 and 44 illustrate on an enlarged scalethe protecting sheet-metals ll, for the lateral edges of the rows; the metals ;displacement of the transversal ccnnecti ons wees when they are acted .upon by the horizontal shearing-force. As a result of this, a part of the shearing-forces istransmitted to the cables of said connections, while the other part is taken up by the friction produced between the tarred horizontal surfaces. The ends of said protecting sheet-metals 4:1 come The raft shown in Figs. 45 and 46'is for the fluvial transport of goods and consists of thirty rows "74 ofthe kind illustrated in 6. These rows 74 comprise two layers each of which consists of two bales, a rope 75 effecting in each row the longitudinal connection. The rows arranged .at thebot tom of the raft and those disposed on both sides beneath the line of flotation are providedwith boards 76 having a trapezoidal cross-section and directly connected to said rows by means of the transversal connections 77 of therows. As a considerable fric tion of the raft is in this case advantageous for the propulsion, no external covers'for A the transversal connections 78 passing over Within the metallic WtltGlFtlglll) cage 61 prothe boards 7 6 are provided for. 79 denotes horizontal planks arranged at'the two'ends so J pressed: against said planksby: means of bolts 81.

Figs. 47 to -50 ,illustrate a dock-yard in which theraft-vessel hereinbefore described can be built.

82 denotes a line of rails of normal gage provided for the exclusive transport'ofthe bales. The line of'rails of normal gage 83 is for the transportof the other members used for the building of 'the raft-vessel (such as conn'ections,.pieces for assembling the ends or tips, motors, guns and the like). 8 1 is a line of rails of narrow as track. for the 'trolleys'85. 86 are three cranes having parallel arms 87 andad'apted to run on a trackofwide gage 88. A build; I

ing slip 89 is open toward the sea 90,

gage serving 7 The assemblage of the; raft-vessel is ef-. V

fected as follows EThe bales conveyed into the building yard on the lineof rails82 are unloaded and then assembled into rows on the trolleys 85. Simultaneously with 'the assemblage ofthe row, the metallic pieces to be provided on both ends of theraft-vessel (such as 57 58', 60 and 61) as-well as the sheet metals usedfor the anchorage of the cagev for the motors :61 are placed in the proper manner on the inclined platform 28.

Said piecesof the tipsof the raft restflagainst bearing pieces, one of which (94.) is fixed to the slip 89 while the other one (95) is adapted to be gradually displaced. The platform 28 is mounted on rails 93 and is subdivided longitudinally into several sections. WVhen the parts 57 to 61 have been brought into their proper position, the light metallic covers of the base are brought into the proper plane and then fixed, the open transversal connections (already provided with junctionboxes and springs 42 and 4st) being then put on said light metallic covers and connected in a non-positive manner to the longitudinal flat irons of said covers by means of rings (Fig. 21). The assembled rows are now seized by the cranes 86 and conveyed above the building yard 89. The guide-surfaces 7 O of the fastening members 9 (Figs. 35 and 37) are inserted into the guide-members 59 resting against the tip members 57, 58, 60 and 61 referred to. The rows are then lowered along said guides until they come to rest on the covers 30 and the open connections.

VVhen all rows of the first layer have been brought into the proper position, the hooks 72 of the fastening members 9 are onnected to the metallic pieces 57, 58, 60 and 61 by means of the bolts 91 (Figs. 36 and 38) and said bolts are then tightened until they are subjected to a stress corresponding to that of the longitudinal connections of the rows. The plates 67 are set hereupon against the guides 59 while the plates 68 are set free, the stress of the cable or rope being transmitted directly to the bolts 91.

At this moment the locking of the transversal connections is started. To this end the portions of the covers provided on the base which project laterally beyond the lower edges of the raft-vessel to an amount corresponding to one and a half the width of the metal-sheet 80 (Fig. 21) are turned back about said edges. These covers of the base are attached to the connections by means of rings fixed to the longitudinal iron flats of said light covers. While said locking is effected, the rows have the tendency to elongate and to shift the guides 59, and consequently the pieces of the tips, outward by means of the plates 67 The bearing pieces 94L and 95 have the object to prevent said displacement of the guides 59 which would prevent the insertion of the locking or fastening members 9 of the rows of the same length of the upper layers into the guides 59.

In this manner, the pieces provided at the ends of the vessels are connected in a tight manner to the rows owing to the stress exerted by the cable, said stress being transmitted directly to the pieces referred to. Hereupon are placed above the two middle rows the two horizontal sheet-metals 65, the lower horizontal sheet-metal 66 and the bolts connecting said sheet-metals to the upper sheet-metals 65 and 66; the vertical sheetmetals 66 are connected by bolts 29. (Figs. 1

35 and 36). The guns transported to the assemblage-place on the rails 83 are seized by the cranes 86 and brought into the proper position. These guns are wrapped up in cordage which may be used at the same time as a packing material, so that elongated cylinders are obtained. Between said cylinders are placed longitudinal pieces of wood out out in an appropriate manner and surrounded by a pitchy cover in order to increase the resistance which the elements of the row of guns thus formed oppose to the shearing-forces. WVhen this row has been put together, the bolts connecting the vertical sheet-metals 64.- and 66 are tightened, the horizontal upper sheet-metals 65 and 66 are brought into the proper position and the bolts 92 are then also tightened. Hereupon the four rows of the second layer to be arranged immediately above the guns are an ranged above the latter, the fastening together and the locking of the corresponding connections being effected in just the same manner as it has been described with regard to the lowermost layer. While the transversal connections are locked, the three edges of the covers of the base (already connected owing to the previous fastening together and situated on the level of the middle of the second layer) are forced between the lower portions of the springs 42 and 4A. As the latter are adapted to slide along the external transversal ropes, they can be adjusted vertically in the required manner. When this has been done, the sheet-metals 46 covering the structure up to the middle of the third layer are inserted between the upper portions of said springs 42 and 44: referred to. With regard to the upper layers, the assemblage is effected in the same sequence and upon the fastening together of the last layer the structure is completed. The movable bearing 95 can then be gradu ally displaced and removed and the raft-vessel is now ready to be launched.

In the embodiments of the invention hereinbefore described each separate bale is enveloped in a tarred canvas, this having the advantage to increase the strength of the structure owing to the considerable friction produced between the tarred surfaces. When required, said impermeable protecting covers may be arranged in any other suitable manner. Thus, for instance, only each row can be covered with impermeable protections, or the bales as well as the rows may be wrapped in such a cover. In this manner the degree of insubmergibility of the structure can easily be varied according to requirements. The structure itself may be made practically insubmergible by arranging the impermeable protections in a suitable manner and by makin them of such a size that the structure continues to float even in the event of an ventual damaging of Said impermeable protections, said damages being adapted to be determined in advance in accordance with the risks of the transport. Owing to the great resistance of the fibered material of the bales and of the connections or fastenings (generally consisting of ropes or cables of special steel) to explosions of mines and torpedoes, the eventual damages deriving directly from such explosions will not be of great consequence. But this advantage would be lost if,-owing to said damages reduced as much as possible, the structure should become disjointed. The property of the structure to not become dislocated or dis'ointed the im ortance of which is even so great as that of the insubmergibility can be practically attained by means of the process hereinbefore described, as the structure remains substantially transportable even after an eventual damaging of the connections or fastenings, said damages being determined in advance in accordancewith the risks of the transport.

With regard to the external stresses to which the raft-vessels are subjected, they present the advantage of having in their whole median part the same cross-section and that the load on each running meter is everywhere the same. Further, by filling the reservoirs provided at the ends of the vessel in an appropriate manner, the structure can be equilibrated so that it is subjected-by smooth seato only very irrelevant bending stresses. Thus, the maximum moments to which the raft-vessel is subjected in consequence of the actions exerted by the waves, are smaller than those to which is subjected a vessel of ordinary construction having the same length and the same displacement. Moreover, and contrary to that which is the case with regard to the raftvessel, the vessels of ordinary construction have always to be designed for different manners of loading. The stresses derived from the bending moment of the raft-vessel are distributed over its whole mass, the bales taking up the compression and the connections or fastenings the tensile stress (if no account is taken of the resistance which the bales oppose to the tensile stress). Besides these stresses the connections and the bales are subjected, in consequence of the fastening together, to latent stresses (the connections Or fastenings to a tensile stress and the bales to a compression) securing the unity of the mass and diminishing the quality of being deformed of the whole structure. Owing to the placidity of the bales the last mentioned stresses comport the advantage of effecting an intimate connection of the different parts of the structure among themselves.

The raftof the fluvial type eliminates the necessity of carrying out the return journey against back-current which is frequently very long and costly, and which has always to be made by the vessels used hitherto for the transport of bales.

In contradistinction to the embodiments of the invention hereinbefore described, the raft-vessel could also be used for the transport of goods which are not used as a material of construction. On the other hand, such a raft-vessel could also 'be used for the exclusive transport of bales.

The raft-vessel serves only for one transport of goods and is dismantled on its arrival. The bolts connecting the metallic pieces of the tips or ends are unlocked and the transversal connections are gradually disjoined by shifting the hooks provided with an eye laterally with regard to one another. The open transversal connections maybe used for transporting and lifting the floating structure while it'is dismantled. To this end, said transversar connections are tensioned from the landing quays situated on both sides of the floating structure.

The pieces used for the formation of the tips and the connections or fastening can be sent back to the exporting country, while the other parts which have been used for the building of the raft, including the sheet-metals, can be used in the importing country.

Eventually, the fastening cables or ropes may be sold upon the removal of the junction-boxes (by melting the fusible metal which they contain) and of the anchoring and locking members.

The main advantages of the raft-vessel are:

(1) Very rapid and simple assemblage by using avery limited number of different pieces admitting a very intensive working in series (Taylors system).

(2) Nearly exclusive transport of goods the dead-weight of the structure being reduced to a minimum.

(3) The structure is practically not submergible and it can not accidentally'disjoin, these advantages being a consequence of the cellular construction and of the transversal and longitudinal system of connections or fastening used which have the efiect to localize the accident to the art of the raftvessel directly affected by said accident.

(4) The volume is greatly reduced, so that-the structure is rendered less visible.

(5) As the material of which the bales are made up may be alight fibered prodnot of any kind, such as cotton, 'hay,hemp, straw, wool and the like, the exportations of such goods from the producing countries can not be impaired by a want of transporting means.

What I claim now as my invention is:

1. A structure for the sea and fluvialtransport of goods,comprising bales made up of goods to be transported, goods to be transported having a greater specific weight,

permeable cover for each bale having an adhesive outer surface, and means for connecting the bales in the longitudinal and transverse direction into an unsubmergible structure adapted to withstand heavy shearing stresses.

3. A structure for the seaand fluvialtransport of goods, comprising floating bales made up of the goods to be transported, an impermeable cover for the bales, said bales being arranged in adjacent horizontal rows and the latter being arranged in superposed layers, cables for fastening together the bales of the rows in the longitudinal direction, said cables being fastened to the bales arranged at the two ends of the rows, tubular means surrounding said cables, and means for connecting the rows of each layer and the diflerent superposed layers in the transversal direction, the connected bales constituting a structure forming a whole adapted to float and to be transported.

4. A structure for-the seaand fluvialtransport of goods, comprising floating bales made up of the goods to be transported, an impermeable cover for the bales, said bales being arranged in adjacent horizontal rows and the latter being arranged in superposed layers, cables for fastening together the bales of the rows in the longitudinal direction, said cables being fastened to the bales arranged at the two ends f the rows, tubular means surrounding said cables, anchoring members arranged between bales appertaining to the same row and preventing said bales from becoming independent from one another upon a rupture of the cables of the row, and means for connectingthe rows f each layer and the different superposed layers in the transversal direction, the connected bales constituting a structure forming a whole adapted to float and to be transported.

5. A structure for the sea and fluvial transport of goods, comprislng floating bales made up of the goods to be transported, an impermeable cover for the bales, the latter being arranged in adjacent horizontal rows and the rows being disposed in superposed layers, means for fastening together the bales of each row in the longitudinal direction of the latter, and flexible means connecting the rows in the transverse direction into a floating structure, each of the last mentioned means being undivided and forming a series of loops and being doubled over its whole length.

6. A structure for the sea and fluvial transport of goods, comprising floating bales made up of the goods to betransported, an impermeable cover for the bales, the latter being arranged in adjacent horizontal rows and the rows being disposed in superposed layers, means for fastening together the bales of the rows in the longitudinal direction of the latter, flexible means connecting the rows in the transversal direction into a floating structure, each of said flexible means forming a series of loops which are for effecting a transversal connection, and means for connecting two portions of the flexible means which have to be held together in order to obtain a loop, said connecting means being adapted to be removed without cutting the flexible means;

7 A structure for the seaand fluvialtransport of goods, comprising floating bales made up of the goods to be transported, an impermeable cover for said bales, the latter being arranged in adjacent horizontal rows and the rows being disposed in superposed layers, means for fastening together the bales of each row in the longitudinal direction of the latter and flexible cables connecting the rows in the transversal direction into a floating structure, said cables beingiarranged so that the pressures exerted by said cables in the vertical direction upon the structure are greater than that exerted by said cables in the horizontal direction.

8. A structure for the seaand fluvialtransport of goods, comprising floating bales made up of the goods to be transported, an impermeable cover for said bales, the latter being arranged in adjacent, horizontal rows and the rows being disposed in superposed layers, means for fastening together the bales of each rowin'the longitudinal direction of the latter, flexible cables connecting the rows in the transversalv direction and junction-boxes interconnecting said cables,

which fasten the rows together into a floating structure forming a whole, the tightening together of the single layers in the transv'ersal direction being effected by a single locking of the cables surrounding acrosssection of the layers.

9. A structure for transport of goods, made up of the goods to be transported, said bales being arranged in adjacent horizontal rows and the rows being disposed in superposed layers, an impermeable cover enveloping the bales, means for fastening together the bales in each row in the longitudinal direction of the latter, a purality of flexible means forming loops connecting the bales the sea and fluvial comprising floating bales in the transverse direction, the tension of each of said means being independent of the tension of the other ones, and members provided with a hook-shaped end and an eye, each eye of said members carrying a loop while the hook-shaped end of each member is engaged by the hooked-shaped end of an other such member carrying a loop of the same flexible transversal connecting means.

10. A structure for the sea-transport *of goods, comprising floating bales made up of goods to be transported, an impermeable cover for the bales, said bales being arranged in adjacent horizontal rows and the latter being arranged in superimposed layers, meansfor connecting the bales of each row in the longitudinal direction, means for connecting the rows in the transversal direction so that the rows 'form a Whole adapted to fioat and to be transported, means provided with a smooth surface surrounding the struc ture and covering the means effecting the connection in thetransversal direction, and means for connecting said means provided with a smooth surface in a detachable manner to the means connecting the rows in the transv'ersal direction.

11. A structure for the sea and fluvial transport of goods, comprisincbales made up of goods to be transported, an impermeable cover for the bales, means for connecting the bales in the longitudinal direction, means for connecting the bales in the transversal direction, the bales fastened together by said means forming a whole adapted to float and to be transported, and means provided between the bales and the means for connecting the bales in the transversal direction and closely fitting to the edges of the bales and adapted to protect the latter from said means for connecting the bales in the transversal direction and to distribute in a more uniform manner the pressure exerted upon the bales by the last mentioned means.

12. A structure'for theseaand fluvialtransport of goods, comprising bales made up of the goods to be transported, an impermeable cover for the bales, means for -connectingthe bales in the longitudinal direction, means for connecting the bales in the transversal direction, the bales fastened together by said means forming a whole adapted to float and to be transported, and

means closely fitting to the edges of the bales and adapted to protect the latter from the means for connecting the bales in the trans versal direction and to distribute in a more uniform vmanner the pressures exerted upon transversal direction, the bales fastened to- 'gether by said means forming a whole'adapted 'to float and to be transported and means provided on the twoends of said whole formed by the bales, said means provided on the two ends being connected to the means connecting the bales in the longitudinal direction and being further assembled on each end to a pointed body. 14;. A structure for the sea-- and'fluvialtransport ofgoods, comprising balesmade up of the goods to be transported, an impermeable cover for the bales, means for connecting the balesin' the longitudinal direction, means for connectin the'bales in the transversal direction, the [ales fastened'together by said means forming a whole adapted to float and to be transported, means provided on the two ends of said whole formed by the bales, said means provided on the two ends being connected to the means connecting the bales'in the longitudinal direction and being further assembled on each end'to a pointed body, and propulsion motors arranged in the pointed body arranged at the back of the whole formed by the bales.

15. A floating and transportable structure for the seaand fluvial-transport of goods, comprising bales made up of the goods to be transported, an impermeable cover for each bale, means for connecting thebales-in the longitudinal direction, tubespsurrounding said means and means forfconnecting-the bales in the transversal direction.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing V as my invention, have signed my name.

. GUSTAVE, NAHMAn- Copies, of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the commissioner; of rate n ts;

Washington, D. 0. 7 

